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An Evening at Gatsby's

Presented by San Bernardino County Museum at San Bernardino County Museum

April 25, 2009

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The San Bernardino County Museum’s history division is hosting “An Evening at Gatsby’s” at the museum on Saturday, April 25. The event, which starts at 5:30 pm, is designed to recall the era of the “roaring 20s” and will feature 1920s dance lessons and dancing, songs of the era performed by Carey Curtis Smith, silent movies, vintage automobiles, costumes, cocktails, and canapés. Tickets must be purchased in advance, and space is limited. “The idea for this event came at the opening night for last year’s special exhibit, ‘All that Glitters,’ when guests were having such a great time dressing up in their best razzle-dazzle,” said Michele Nielsen, the museum’s curator of history and archives. “In fact, the Gatsby committee was formed that very evening, with enthusiastic community members who wanted to get started right away.” Nielsen explained how the decade of the 1920s is of particular interest to the history of inland Southern California. “Flappers, bathtub gin, and dancing the Charleston are certainly an important aspect of the era’s legacy. But issues like prohibition, women’s suffrage, and huge social changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution and the movement of populations from farms to cities all lie at the root of seemingly frivolous issues like bobbed hair, short skirts, and martinis. And we can’t forget that the ‘twenties led the world directly into the Great Depression. There clearly are lessons to be learned today from 80 years ago.” Special exhibits featuring clothing and accessories from the 1920s will be on display in the museum during the evening, including a recent donation of 1920s gowns from the collection of Fern Bailey, owner of the Enchanted Attic Costume Shop in San Bernardino, and a bamboo cane from the Essanay Studios in Niles, California, a silent film prop said to have been used by Charlie Chaplin during the filming of his landmark film, “The Tramp.” Guests at “An Evening at Gatsby’s” are invited to come in 1920s glad rags. Those who arrive in vintage (pre-1930s) automobiles will be assigned VIP parking spots. Tickets are $40 per person; Museum Association members can reserve their tickets at $35 per person or $50 for two. Call the Museum Association at (909) 307-2669 ext. 230 or 225, to make reservations, or to find out more information. The event is supported by the San Bernardino County Museum Association and by community partners including Shake It Up Dance Studios of Redlands, the Enchanted Attic costume rentals of San Bernardino, Shop Suey Boutique of Redlands, Fleur de Lis … a florist of Yucaipa, Printing and Promotion Plus of Colton, Dr. Randall Hoff, DDS, of Redlands, and Plumes ‘n Feathers of Chino.